Despite being teased for sometimes using big or unfamiliar words, attorneys tend to universally use the common word “tricky” when describing easements. An easement is a right for one property owner to use someone else’s property without taking away ownership from the that other owner. For example, I may own a woods that is located […]
Legal-Ease column: “Leap year, deadlines and ‘reasonably close’ dates”
Every year that is divisible by four is a leap year. However, among leap years, every year that is divisible by 100 is not a leap year. Thus, this year is a leap year. And, due to this year being a leap year, February has 29 days instead of 28 days. Such academic details of […]
Legal-Ease column: “Condos, PUDs and homeowner associations differ by what’s owned versus shared”
Traditionally, people own houses with adjoining yards, driveway, garages and other outbuildings. The person owns that property without neighbors or anyone else dictating the use, look and layout of the property, except for local governments who enforce zoning and public safety laws. However, some people feel that the value of everyone’s homes can be increased […]
Legal-Ease column: “Judges: thankless umpires”
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts headlined last week’s news as he presided over President Trump’s impeachment trial. Justice Roberts explained his role as being that of an umpire in a baseball game, calling balls and strikes. Nevertheless, some people disagreed with whether Justice Roberts should only be calling balls and strikes and other […]
Legal-Ease column: “Powers of attorney and their effectiveness”
If someone is unable or unwilling to make decisions, the only way that someone else can make their decisions is if that other person has been empowered to do so by a local probate court or through a written power of attorney signed by the person giving the authority (the principal). Court appointment of people […]
Legal-Ease column: “Consequences from agricultural pesticide drift increasing”
Agriculture, like the rest of our world, is growing and changing at a pace seldom seen in history. Crops and animals are genetically modified to correlate to each field and each pen of a production facility. In producing crops, a pesticide applied to one field can sometimes drift onto another, nearby field. The risk of […]
Legal-Ease column: “Double jeopardy and the Fourth Amendment in NW Ohio”
Northwest and West Central Ohio has dealt with an incredibly unfortunate situation that may also significantly impact the rest of the United States. My summary of the facts is brief and simplified. A man named Travis Soto was involved in the 2006 death of his son. Mr. Soto told authorities that his son died from […]
Legal-Ease column: “Basics of employment discrimination and Constitutional rights”
For college and NFL football coaches, this is the season of hiring and firing. For the rest of us, we can find ourselves addressing updated new year resolutions, including resolutions to find new jobs. Based upon the current unemployment rate, a job should not necessarily be hard to come by, even for low-skilled workers. That […]
Legal-Ease: Numbers, numbers and business numbers
Similar to today’s technology requiring the memorization of a lot of different numbers and passwords, businesses also require an array of numbers and passcodes.
As part of the filing of an LLC, the Secretary of State assigns a document number to identify the actual, filed articles. The Secretary of State also assigns a business its charter number, which helps identify the organization. And usually following an entity’s establishment, a business will get an employer/tax identification number, also called an EIN.
Legal-Ease: Three pillars of nursing home planning
Long-term health care, LTC, can have a lot of uncertainty around its planning. Horror stories abound of people losing their life savings due to needing LTC, such as a nursing home.
Many aspects should be considered when planning for long-term health care, but three pillars compose the foundation. Each should be used at least five years in advance of needing LTC.